Bowling alley scoring and timing projector device



Nov. 5, 1957 R. 1.. HOLLOWAY BOWLING ALLEY SCORING AND TIMING PROJECTORDEVICE 3Sheets-Sh0et 1 Filed D60. 23, 1954 INVENTOR ROBERT L. HOLLOWAYBY ATTQNEY Nov. 5, 1957 R. 1.. HOLLOWAY BOWLING ALLEY SCORING AND TIMINGPROJECTOR DEVICE Filed Dec. 23, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTR ROBERT L.HOLLOWAY Novf5, 1957 R. 1.. HOLLOWAY 2,311,892

BOWLING ALLEY SCORING AND TIMING PROJECTOR DEVICE Filed Dec. 23, 1954 5Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR ROBERT L. HOLLOWAY ATTONEY United States PatentBOWLING ALLEY SCORING AND TIMING PROJECTOR DEVICE Robert L. Holloway,Snyder, N. Y., assignor to American Machine & Foundry Company, acorporation of New Jersey Application December 23, 1954, Serial No. 477,356

Claims. (Cl. 8824) This invention relates to a bowling score device, andmore particularly to a bowling score projecting device provided withmeans for informing one or more players, and/ or spectators and alleymanagers of the progress each player is making during the course ofplaying the game, and to relate this progress to a norm for suchprogress.

The present invention is operative to project bowling scores written orprinted by a score keeper on a bowling score card or sheet mounted on astand at the head end of an alley for projection onto a screen locatedpreferably above the alley and some distance from the playing positionwhere it is visible to the players, spectators, manager and the scorekeeper. It is well known that from time to time during the course ofplaying the game, some of the players may be inattentive to the play,and the game drags because they are not ready to bowl on time. When thisoccurs, time is lost which could otherwise be of productive value to aproprietor. Accordingly the present invention covers the provision ofmeans which visibly informs all players when the game starts and theprogress being made during the course of play, with specific referenceto the elapse of time. As the result of my invention, players obtaingreater enjoyment of the game, and higher scores. Where pin boys areused for setting pins, they do their jobs in a more efficient manner.Furthermore, in league play, games start and finish according toschedule, alleys can be kept cleaner because of availability of time forcleaning between matches played by succeeding teams, and proprietors aremore satisfied because of the efficient use of time and the resultinggreater income.

In a preferred form of the invention, there is provided an opticalprojecting device which projects the score from a score pad onto ascreen located above and down the alley. Also associated with theoptical projecting device is a moving transparency or means forindicating the passage of time on the projected representation of thescore sheet. This may be done in any suitable manner, as by a movinglight beam of a selected size and shape or shadow which is adapted totravel from left to right until finally when the tenth frame shall havebeen played, the projection of the time indicator moves to the extremeright of the projected score pad.

in normal league play when there are two sets of five players eachplaying on adjoining alleys, it is customary for a game to last aboutforty minutes. Accordingly in accordance with the invention, there isprovided a moving projected time indicator which travels at such a ratethat in moving from the extreme left to the extreme right of theprojected score pad, forty minutes, more or less, lapse. If less thanfive players play, the timing period can be adjusted so that, dependingupon the number of players playing the game, the projected timeindicator moves from the extreme left to the extreme right of the scorepad in the desired amount of time.

Where used herein, the term projected time indicator is intended to meana suitable shadow cast by an opaque element forming a part of the timeindicating system, or a projected light beam of suitable size and shapewhich is Cir a! projected and moved during the course of play of a gameprogressively and continuously across the projected representation of ascore sheet or card.

-t is an object of the invention to provide an improved bowling scoreprojecting device having means for apprizing players, spectators andmanager of the progress of the It is a further object of the inventionto provide a novel score projecting device having associated therewithmeans for informing players and spectators of the progress the playersare making during the course of play of the game, and also making itapparent that undue delay is being caused by one or more players if thetime indicating means travels beyond the column in which figures arebeing entered.

It i a further object of the invention to provide an improved scoringdevice having associated therewith signalling means for informingplayers that they are delaying the game unduly.

The invention also contemplates the provision of automatic means forindicating the progress of the bowling game, and for adjusting themovement of the indicating means in accordance with the number ofplayers playing, said means being further adjustable to vary the timeallowed for any given number of players.

With these and other object not specifically mentioned in view, theinvention consists in certain combinations and constructions which willbe described fully hereinafter, and then set forth in the claimshereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification,and in which like characters of reference indicate the same or likeparts:

Fig. l is an isometric view illustrating one embodiment of theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the score projecting device made in accordancewith the invention;

Fig. 3 is an isometric view showing the invention and illustratingsomewhat in detail the light beam scanning device and the optical systemassociated therewith;

Fig. 3a is a perspective view showing a modified form of time indicatingmeans; and

Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing a modified form of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, and especially Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seenthat the score projecting device, and the timing mechanism associatedtherewith are mounted in a suitable casing, designated 10. Casing 10 issupported on uprights or standards 12, suitably attached to padsupporting table 16. Score pad supporting table 16 is mounted on astandard 18 having an enlarged base 20. Score pad 22 is held positionedon table 16 by a suitable clamp bracket 24 of conventional design.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, mounted withincasing 10 is a suitable optical system which is provided withconventional lenses and mirrors for scanning the score pad 22. Thescanning range of the scanner lens 23 of the optical system is indicatedin broken lines 28 in Figs. 1 and 2. Any suitable conventionalscanning-projecting device may be used. For example, a Taylor spot lightopaque projector may be used.

It is essential that in the scanning and projecting device used, thelight, lens and mirror system be capable of not only scanning the scorepad as indicated in Fig. l, but also being able to project the entireindicia of the score pad 22 onto a screen 30 suitably mounted down thealley, or at a point somewhere intermediate between the end of thebowling alley and the players position. Screen 30 is so mounted that itis above the line of play of the alley and therefore offers noobstruction or abstraction to a bowlers complete enjoyment of the game.

As shown in Fig. 2, light rays 15 are projected downwardly from lightsources 14 in casing 16 onto score pad. 22. Reflected light from scorepad 22 is collected and projected by means of a suitable optical systemincluding lens 23, objective lens 36, and mirror 26, onto screen 36 asindicated in broken lines 23 and 32, whereby the entire indicia on thescore pad 22 is made visible to those who are observing screen 36 fromthe players end of the alley. It will be seen that as each individualbowlers score is noted on score pad 22, it will be visible on screen 30by means of this projecting system described hereinabove.

In playing the game of bowling, and especially in league play wherelarge numbers of people congregate and each team is composed of fiveplayers, considerable time may be lost with a commensurate loss inincome to the bowling alley proprietor, unless each player is aware ofthe fact that he should play in more or less of a timed operation. Thusin order to prevent undue delay caused by capriciousness or other actson the part of bowlers, and to let all members of respective teams orall players become aware of the passing of time and the desire tomaintain a progressive play which actually contributes to the enjoymentof the game since it has the etfect of increasing the rhythm of play, Ihave provided means for indicating the passage of time which forms animportant part of this invention.

One form of the invention embodying the indication of the passage oftime is disclosed in Fig. 3. In this figure, the casing has been removedto disclose an endless flexible member 40 which is provided with rows ofperforations 42 at the top and bottom, which perforations are adapted tobe engaged progressively by means of teeth 44 on sprockets 46.

In the illustrated embodiment, endless member or belt 40 is disclosed ashaving a substantially quadrilateral path of movement. It will beunderstood that it could also take some other path, such for instance aselliptical or circular. Referring more especially to endless member orbelt 40, it will be seen that it may consist of a top strap 48 and abottom strap 50 in which perforations 42 are provided. Attached to thestraps 48 and 59 are lengths 52 and 54 of a flexible material, such forexample as plastic. This plastic may be cellulose acetate, apolyethylene film, or any other suitable plastic which is flexible andwhich will not bend or warp because of the presenceof some heat in theenclosing container 16. A line of demarkation 56 separates transparenttinted areas of flexible members 52 and 54, one being, say red, and theother, green. Any other color combination could be used. Because of thedifference in the colors of the two strips or lengths 52 and 54, it willbe seen that where they are joined together, there will be a. line ofdemarkation projected on the screen 36. In a case where an elongatedopaque member connects strips 52 and 54, a line of demarkation 56 willbe an opaque projected line.

The indicia projected through lens 36 onto screen 36 through belt 40will appear tinted on screen 36 in accordance with the positioning ofline 56. The line 56 positioning is controlled by tooth sprockets 46which in turn are positioned by a suitable standard timing motor, suchas a conventional type of adjustable timing motor, or other suitabledevice. It will be apparent that suitable adjustment of timing motor 62will cause the color line of demarkation 56 to progress across theprojected score pad at the anticipated proper rate of progress of thegame, thus suitably reminding the bowler of deviation from such rate.Timing motors are also available, which automatically reset to zeroafter a desired lapse of time. 7 This type of timing motor thereforecould be used to reset automatically the time indication for thesucceeding game.

Referring to Fig. 3a, an equally satisfactory time indication may beachieved by employing a belt assembly designated 1% which may or may notbe tinted, or by eliminating the flexible transparent material betweenmembers 57 which are positioned vertically, as was line 56 in Figure 3,and equally spaced along the length of straps 48 and 5% When suitablyadjusted, the speed of motor 62 will cause the plurality of equallyspaced vertical opaque members 57 to successively traverse the opticalview of lens 36, thus casting a shadow on screen 36 as a passage of timeindication. Here, color is not involved and no reset is required for thesucceeding game, because the spacing between members 57 is so arrangedthat the projected image of one member 57 moves on the projected imageof the score sheet on screen 3% The image of the next member 57 islocated in proper position on screen 36 for the next game.

In the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 3 and 4, the reset position ofthe belt 49 is so determined that the projected image of the line ofdemarcation 56 is located to the left of the first scoring column 31 ofthe projected score sheet 22 on screen 36 at the beginning of a bowlinggame. At the end of the game belt 4% has moved to such an extent thatline 56 is located adjacent the right edge of the projected image ofscore pad 22 or to the right of the last column containing the totalscores of the players. When line 56 reaches this latter position, thetravel of belt 44 is interrupted by the stoppage of motor 62.

Referring to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the output drive shaft 64 ofmotor 62 is connected by a cut coupling 66 of conventional design. Cutcoupling is normally maintained in operative relationship by means of aspring 70 encircling shaft 68 which mounts two of the sprockets 46,these being the driving sprockets. The three other sets of sprockets 46are mounted on idler shafts suitably supported in the base 11 of casing10. As indicated in Fig. 2, the top end of shaft 68 is provided with aknob 72 attached thereto in order that at the end of a game, the scorekeeper may pull up on shaft 68 which is slidably splined to sprockets 46so that on turning the shaft 68 in the direction of arrow B, belt member40 may be moved to the left, as in Fig. 3, and reset at its zeroposition l, as viewed in Fig. 1. Power for motor 62 is fun nished by anysuitable exterior source of power designated generally 39. By means ofadjustment provisions in the Haydon type timing devices and/or rheostatsor record play type speed changers, the speed of the time indicatingdevice and the period of operation can be varied in order to conformwith the number of players rolling on a particular bowling alley. Thusif one player is playing the game, the point of knob 84 will be turnedto position indicated 1. In this case, the transit of the line ofdemarkation 56 from left to right, as viewed in Fig. 1, will beapproximately 8 minutes, which is the normal rolling time for a singleplayer. In the same manner by ad justing the position of knob 84 topositions 2, 3, 4 and 5, the increased periods of time are afforded forthe transit of the image 60 of time indicator member 56 across screen30.

It will be noted that in Fig. 3,- a switch 86 is indicated for closingthe circuit through motor 62 in order to start the operation or themovement of belt member 40. If desired, the leads of the motor 62 may beconnected to a control system (not shown) of a bowling pin spottingmachine, such as that indicated in Broekhuysen Patent 2,559,274, so thatwhen a ball or the first ball of a game arrives in the pit of a bowlingalley (not shown), the circuit through motor 62 is closed and beltmember 40 begins to operate. Here again, as in the case describeddirectly above where motor 62 is started manually, the position of knob84 is set in accordance with the number of players rolling the game.Motor 62 continues in operation until the end of the predeterminedperiod, when it stops, depending upon the number of players.

As a visual means for apprizing a player of the progress of his game, orfor informing a team of the progress they are making, the speed ofmovement of belt 40 is so set that the average time of rolling a game orframe is taken into consideration. If there is an undue delay in theplaying of the game, the shadow line of time indication will move aheador to the right of the filled in score columns on score screen 30, orthe line of color demarcation will be similarly positioned, thusindicating to the players that they are not keeping up with the game. Onthe other hand, if the shadow line of time indication or the line ofcolor demarcation shows to the left of the filled in score columns, itwill be an indication that the play of the game is progressing inaccordance with, or less than, average timing and that the game will befinished on. time and that all parties will be satisfied with theprogress of playing the game.

The score projecting device shown in the modification illustrated inFig. 4 may be similar in construction and operation to that disclosed inCoker Patent 2,381,269. The objective lens housing, however, isessentially the same as that disclosed in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, inthat it is provided with a time lapse indicating mechanism designatedgenerally 152 which may be similar in construction and operation to thatdisclosed in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 3a. As indicated at 172, there isprovided a resetting device which functions in the same manner aselements 72, described hereinabove.

In the modified form illustrated in Fig. 4, there is provided a standdesignated generally 110 recessed at 111 to accommodate the feet of thescore keeper when he is seated in score keeping position. The top ofstand 1!) is formed with a table 112 provided with a translucent panel114 fitted into a suitable opening formed in table 112. Panel 114provides a suitable writing surface on which a score card of sheet 115bearing the conventional bowling score indicia, may be placed and heldby clips 117, as indicated in Fig. 4, so that the projector which is ofa suitable conventional type, may project the score by means ofobjective lens 136 onto screen 30.

Suitably mounted within stand 110 is a light socket bracket 118 whichprovides a support for an electric bulb 12 .5 to furnish the source oflight. A concave reflector 122 is positioned directly below bulb 120,reflector 122 being suitably supported on a bracket 124 attached tostand 110. Any suitable conventional system of optics may be used in theprojecting device. A pair of lenses 121, 121, comprising a condensorsystem, is secured in frames 126 suitably secured to the interior ofstand 110. It will be seen that light from bulb 120 passing throughlenses 121 will project an image of the score card into housing 128suitably mounted on standards 129 attached to table 112. The rays oflight passing through score card 115 are received on a mirror 130, anddirected thereby through objective lens 136 onto a screen, such asscreen 38 mounted above the alley, shown in Fig. 1. As statedhereinabove, located within housing 128 is a time lapse indicatingmechanism 152 which may be the same as that disclosed in Figs. 1, 2, 3and 3a. The operation of this structure, shown in Fig. 4, is exactly thesame as that disclosed in the form of invention illustrated in Figs. 1to 3, and 3a.

What I claim is:

l. A bowling alley score projecting and timing apparatus comprising asupport, means mounting a bowling score sheet on said support, a screen,a score projecting device mounted on said support, said device includingan optical system and a source of light associated therewith forprojecting a beam of light containing an image of said score sheet ontosaid screen showing the frame to frame score made by the players, amovable time indicating signalling element operatively associated withsaid device, means for moving said element in said beam of light toproject a moving image of said signalling element on said screen toindicate the passage of time, and timing means controlling the rate ofmovement of said signalling element.

2. A bowling alley score projecting and timing apparatus comprising asupport, means mounting a bowling score sheet on said support, a screen,a projecting device mounted on said support, said device including asource of light and an optical scanning and projecting system forscanning and projecting an image of said score sheet on said screen, amovable time indicating signalling element operatively associated withsaid device, means for moving said element substantially at right anglesto said source of light projecting said image of said score sheet onsaid screen to superimpose an image of said element on said projectedimage of said score sheet on said screen.

3. A bowling alley score projecting and timing apparatus comprising asupport, means mounting a bowling score sheet on said support, a screen,a score projecting device mounted on said support, said device includingan optical system having an objective lens and a source of lightassociated therewith for projecting an image of said score sheet ontosaid screen, a movable lapse of time signalling element operativelyassociated with said device, means for moving said lapse of timesignalling element relative to said objective lens to project a movingimage of said signalling element across saidprojected image of saidscore sheet on said screen, and timing means for adjusting the rate ofmovement of said signalling element to apprise players of the progressthey are making in playing the game.

4. A bowling alley scoring and timing apparatus comprising an imagereceiving screen, a support for a score pad, a source of light, anoptical system receiving light from said source of light and projectingan image of said score pad by diverging rays of light on said screen, atiming element, means mounting said timing element for movementsubstantially normal to said rays of light to project an image on saidelement on said image of said score pad on said screen, means for movingsaid element, and timing means controlling the rate of movement of saidelement and said projected image thereof on said screen to apprise aplayer of the progress he is making in accordance with a predeterminedframe by frame rate of play of the game.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 4, wherein said timing elementincludes means for locating said timing element so that the projectedimage thereof at the beginning of a bowling game is at the left of thefirst scoring column, and wherein said means for moving said elementincludes means for stopping the movement of said projected image of saidelement adjacent the right end of the projected image of said score padat the end of said game.

6. A bowling alley scoring and timing apparatus comprising a screen, abowling score projecting device, including means for projecting aplurality of rays of light forming a projected image of a score sheet onsaid screen, a timing element, means mounting said element for movementacross said rays for the projection of an image of said element on saidscreen, means normally positioning said element at the beginning of agame with said image of said element positioned to the left of the firstcolumn of the projected image of said score sheet, driving means formoving said element during the play of the game to travel said image ofsaid element from the left to the right over the image of said projectedscore sheet, and means for adjusting the rate of movement of saidelement driving means to move the projected image thereof in accordancewith a predetermined rate of play of the game, and the number of playersplaying the game.

7. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said signalling elementcomprises an endless belt, a vertical beam of light interrupting membercarried by said belt, and wherein said means for moving said memberincludes driving and driven means supporting said signalling element,and means for operating said driving means.

8. A bowling score projecting and timing apparatus comprising a screen,mechanism for projecting an image of a score sheet on said screen,mechanism for projecting a color area on said screen, and means forprogressively increasing the color area projected on said screen oversaid projected image of said score sheet at a rate com- A 7 mensuratewith a predetermined prescribed time of play per frame of the game ofbowling.

9. The invention defined in claim 8 wherein said score sheet comprises aplurality of vertical scoring columns, each column indicating a frameor" play of the game of bowling and a movable transparent film, andwherein said last-named mechanism comprises means initially locatingsaid color area to the left of the first scoring column, and saidlast-named means includes means for moving said film progressively toincrease the area of color from left to right across said projected areaof said score sheet on said screen, and means for stopping saidlast-named means when said projected color area covers the entireprojected score sheet image.

10. A bowling score projecting and timing atus comprising a support,means mounting a .1 anslucent score card on said support, means forprojecting light through said score card, including an optical system anobjective lens for focussing a projected image of said score card on ascreen, mechanism for projecting a color area on said screen,'and meansfor progressively increasing the color area projected on said screenover said projected image of said score card from one side to the otherat a rate commensurate with a prescribed time of play per frame of thegame of bowling.

11. A bowling alley score projecting and timing apparatus comprising asupport for a bowling score sheet, a screen, a projecting device forprojecting an upright image of said score sheet on said screen, saiddevice including an optical system and a source of light coactingtherewith, and a lapse of time signalling element for indicating on saidprojected image of said score sheet on said screen a preferred rate ofplay to be maintained by those playing the game, said signalling elementincluding an endless belt composed of abutting lengths of flexibletransparent strips of diiferent colors, having a line of joinder forminga line of demarcation, means mounting said belt in the path of rays oflight to be projected on said screen with the color of one of saidstrips projected on said screen at the beginning of a game, and meansfor moving said belt to progressively advance the color of the other ofsaid strips over said projected image of said score sheet on said screenin accordance with a predetermined optimum rate of play of the game,whereby players are visibly apprised that they are keeping up with orfalling behind said predetermined optimum rate of play of said game.

12. The apparatus defined in claim 11, wherein said line of demarcationformed by the line of joinder of said colored strips is projected onsaid projected image of said score sheet, and forms a moving line ofdemarcation on said last-named image.

13. The invention defined in claim 11 including a timing motor formoving said belt, and said motor includes means for stopping itsoperation in response to the passage of a predetermined period of time.

14. The invention defined in claim 13 including means for resetting saidline of demarcation of said colored strips pending the play of asucceeding game.

15. The invention defined in claim 13, including means for selectivelycontrolling the period of operation of said motor in accordance with thenumber of players who are playing a game.

16. A bowling alley scoring and timing apparatus comprising a scorecard, a support for said score card, a screen a bowling score projectingdevice, including an optical system,a source of light located beneathsaid score card, optical means for projecting a plurality of rays oflight through said score card to form a projected image 'of a scoresheet on said screen, a timing element, means 'mov ably mounting saidelement for movement across said rays for for projecting an image ofsaid element on said screen, means normally positioning said element atthe be nning of a game with said image of said element positioned to theleft of the first columns of the projected image of said score card,means for moving said element during the play of the game to travel saidimage of said element from the left to the right of the image of saidprojected score card, and means for controlling he rate of movement ofsaid element and the projected n age thereof in accordance with apredetermined rate of play of the game, and the number of playersplaying the game.

17. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said signalling elementcomprises an endless belt, a vertical member carried by said belt, andwherein said means for moving said member includes driving and drivenmeans supporting said signalling element, a motor for operating saiddriving means, and selective means for controlling the period ofoperation of said motor.

18. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said signalling elementcomprises an endless conveyor, a plurality of substantiallyequidistantly spaced substantially vertical elements supported on saidconveyor, driving and driven means mounting said conveyor for movement,a. motor for operating said driving means, means for operating saidmotor to move one of said elements across the rays of light projectingsaid score sheet on said screen in the course of playing a complete gameof bowling, whereby said element casts a shadow on said image of saidscore sheet apprizing players of the progress each is making in playingthe game in accordance with a predetermined optimum rate of play.

19. The apparatus defined in claim 18 wherein said conveyor comprisesalternate strips of red and green transparent colored flexible material,said colors being operative to color the projected image and visiblyindicate by increase and decrease of colored areas on said projectedimage of said score sheet, the proposed rate of play of the game as acomparison with the actual rate of play thereof.

20. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said source of light ofsaid optical system is located beneath said support, and said systemincludes means for projecting light through a score card on saidsupport.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,036,131 Mayer Aug. 20, 1912 1,052,835 Littman Feb. 11, 1913 1,129,693Kurre Feb. 23, 1915 1,704,811 Stuber Mar. 12, 1929 2,061,378 Henze et alNov. 17, 1936 2,250,174 Bancroft July 22, 1941 2,330,799 Coker et alOct. 5, 1943 2,381,260 Coker Aug. 7, 1945 2,512,828 Collins July 27,1950

